Thermoelectric conversion module and method for manufacturing thermoelectric conversion module

Abstract

A thermoelectric conversion module which has a P-type thermoelectric conversion material and an N-type thermoelectric conversion material electrically connected to each other. The P-type thermoelectric conversion material and the N-type thermoelectric conversion material are joined with insulating material particles (ceramic spherical particles) interposed therebetween, so as not to be electrically connected to each other. The insulating material particles are joined to the P-type thermoelectric conversion material with a first adhesive material interposed therebetween and to the N-type thermoelectric conversion material with a second adhesive material interposed therebetween, and the P-type thermoelectric conversion material and the N-type thermoelectric conversion material are electrically connected to each other in a region other than the region in which the thermoelectric conversion materials are joined with the first and second adhesive material and the insulating material particles interposed therebetween.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermoelectric conversion module comprising:
 a P-type thermoelectric conversion material; 
 an N-type thermoelectric conversion material; and 
 insulating material particles joined to the P-type thermoelectric conversion material with a first adhesive material interposed therebetween and joined to the N-type thermoelectric conversion material with a second adhesive material interposed therebetween, wherein 
 the P-type thermoelectric conversion material and the N-type thermoelectric conversion material are electrically connected to each other in a region other than a region in which the P-type and N-type thermoelectric conversion materials are joined with the first adhesive material and the second adhesive material and the insulating material particles interposed therebetween, and 
 the insulating material particles have a diameter greater than the total thickness of the first and second adhesive materials to have the first material and the second adhesive material spaced from each other. 
 
     
     
       2. The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the insulating material particles have a 3 CV value of 20% or less. 
     
     
       3. The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulating material particles are ceramic spherical particles, and wherein an average of the diameter of the insulating material particles is 0.05 to 0.6 mm. 
     
     
       4. The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 1 , wherein an average of the diameter of the insulating material particles is 0.05 to 0.6 mm. 
     
     
       5. The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating material particles are spherical zirconium oxide beads. 
     
     
       6. The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second adhesive materials are glass based materials. 
     
     
       7. The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second adhesive materials are not in contact with each other. 
     
     
       8. The thermoelectric conversion module according to  claim 1 , wherein the P-type thermoelectric conversion material and the N-type thermoelectric conversion material are electrically connected in series.